Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-09
m;sfelIans9us.
SUecialties in Farming.

In the discussion that followed the read
ing of MIR. Slade's paper at Barre. Col
Wilson made some very excellent remarks.
Mech anics are complaining that since the
division of labor has been carried to such
An extreme in this country by the intro
duction of machinery it is next to lmpos-
sible for one to learn thoroughly any kind
of trade The mechanic no longer learns
business but merely learns how to do a
certain part Many farmers oppose the
idea of speciaities in farming tor fear that
it would make the farmer but a mere ma
chine tender, as it were. that it would re-
duee the farmer to lower degree in the
scale than he already occupies. and that
his independence would be sacrificed by
combining his attention to one crop, or to a
very few kinds of crop.
| He thought few realize to what an ex-
tent this idea Of specially in farming has
already been carried. He knew of farm
err who is raising roses and is cutting and
sending to market in winter 1000 per day
! In he storch0use OF one pickle grower IN
Rhode Island he had seen, at one time,
| 10 900 barrels of pickles. This man is de-
voting 1870 acres of the poorest kind of
SANDY l4nd to pickles and few other gar
den crops. To make his business Il sure
success. this gardener had introduced an
extensive system of irrigation by the use
of steam boilers and pumps.
Another gardener of his acquaintance
has given his attention TO the culture of
cantelope melons, and had become so
skiIlfnl in tais chosen speciality as to be
able to put his crop in the market while
the truit is worth high price. Another,
bv taking advantage of facilities tor irri-
eating poor, sandy land, has learned how
to grow the finest quality OF straw berries.
Though fair success NAV be obtained by
farmers who raise most of what they con-
sumo and thus maintain degree of in
dependence that may be commendable, yet
the fact remains hat the highest success
comes only by following special lines of
work The term success is, however, o
often misunderstood. Success is not to
be measured wholly by the amour, of
money one accumulates. A farmer who
acquires broad acres by the help OF a wife.
who becomes an invalid as a result Of
overwork and pipching economy, has not
made his business a success but a lament
able failure.
The speaker recalled the history of a
mechanic, who, without showing any re-
markable degree of ambition to become
rich, had early determined to live inside of
his income. He recently met him. quite ad
vanced in life, and inquired as to his con-
dition. The mechanic said he discovered
when he was in the prime of lite that old
men could not earn as much as younger
ones. and it occurred to him that if he
lived clear up to his income then, there
would come time when his wages would
fail to yield him comfortable support.
He thereupon determined to begin to lay
aside something for old age, and soon
found it an easy thing to do. This man
is now in easy circumstances, and can
work or not in his old age as he pleaseS.
He has good home and garden, and
with money laid by is truly Independent.
This. said Col. Wilson, is successes, even
though the mans worldly possessions are
not what would be generally called large.
His success is that which can be attained
by all with energy, sobriety and industry.
To have reared Il family reputaply is to
have attained the best success in the
world.--NeoD England Farmer.